Familiar faces ringed the table. Gary and Suki. Gigi, Neena, and Cedar. A place was set in memory of Anna’s husband and their father. She’d gotten everyone to agree to leave their cell phones in her bedroom, on vibrate, encouraging them to eat and converse uninterrupted.
Anna had an earlier moment of intuition about Gary and Suki when he’d called her about coming to the island for the holiday. What better time to announce a pregnancy? She watched throughout the meal for telltale signs, but Suki not only had Gary pour her wine, she drank it, which put that idea to rest. Maybe her gut instinct was wrong.
Remnants of second and third helpings littered everyone’s plate, and no one was in a rush to make the transition to the living room, where they’d stuff themselves with dessert while playing board games. That was always Anna and Gary Sr.’s favorite part of the holiday, the laughter that created room in their bellies for slices of pie with dollops of whipped cream.
Her son stood, pushed his chair away, and lifted his wineglass. He made a show of clearing his throat.
“Suki and I have some news,” he said, glancing at his wife and grinning. “Her father has offered both of us positions in his company, and we have decided to accept.”
Glasses rose around the table, along with a chorus of congratulations.
“I didn’t know your dad was opening offices in Vancouver,” said Anna, “but how wonderful for you!”
Suki’s eyes darted to meet Gary’s. Before she could respond, Gary chimed in. “He’s not, Mom. We’re moving to Toronto.”
Anna couldn’t mask her surprise. She set her wineglass back on the table a little too roughly and had to excuse herself to get a dry dishtowel to put under the spot before the alcohol stained the wood.
Seated once again, and properly composed, she continued. “That’s a big move for you two. Toronto’s on the other side of the country.”
“It is, Mom,” Suki said, reaching across the table to cup Anna’s wrist. “But we’re keeping the cottage. In fact, we wanted to talk to Gigi about doing a kind of timeshare, maybe renting it out and letting it make some money for the three of us.”
Gigi raised her eyebrows and refilled her glass. “I’m definitely up for that,” she said, her response enthusiastic and unequivocal. “And congratulations, you two. That’s a big move. I’ll miss you guys.”
“We’ll get you both out to visit,” Gary reassured them as he pulled his chair away from the table and sat closer to his wife. Suki leaned into him and whispered in his ear. He patted her knee and nodded.
“It’s not like we’ll be gone forever,” he said. “And oh yeah, there’s another thing. Mom, you’re going to be a grandmother!”
Anna had a brief moment of not understanding before she leapt up and rounded the table to hug her son and daughter-in-law. Tears came next.
“But you’re drinking!” she exclaimed, wishing she’d heard wrong about their decision to move away.
“No, she’s not.”
Gary turned the bottle of wine he’d kept near their plates. “Alcohol-free,” he said, grinning. “We knew your baby antenna would figure it out if she didn’t have anything to drink.”
Gigi had gotten up and was hugging the parents-to-be. “You can be such a jerk.”
“I know. You’re going to miss me torturing you.”
“Mom’s got news too,” she countered, swatting at her brother’s shoulder. He cringed in mock pain.
Anna looked across the table, nervously smoothing the tablecloth, not sure to what news Gigi was referring.
“C’mon, Mom, what is it?” Gary looked pleased as punch that he’d so thoroughly surprised his family. He leaned into his wife, his arm possessively wrapped around her shoulders.
“Mexico? Old boyfriend?” Gigi asked. “Any of that ring a bell?”
“Wait,” Cedar butted in, “Liam’s an old boyfriend?”
“No, Daniel’s the old boyfriend. Liam’s the handsome next-door neighbor.”
Gary’s demeanor shifted from garrulous to guarded as he crossed his legs. “What do you mean, old boyfriend? Mom?”
Anna took a deep breath and dove in. “I’m going to spend a few days in Mexico next week with a man I used to date in college. We’ve been writing and talking for a couple of weeks and—”
“But, Mom,” Gary interrupted, leaning forward, “what about Dad?”
“Dad’s been gone for five years,” said Gigi. “Mom’s waited long enough.”
Gary glared at his sister before dropping his head into his hands, his fingers threading through his hair, agitated. “I want to be happy for you, Mom, but this is really hard.”
Neena nudged Cedar and gestured toward the kitchen. They stood in unison and began to clear the table, making no attempt to dampen the clang and clack of dishes and utensils as they were rinsed, washed, stacked, and dried.
“I know it is,” Anna said. “I wasn’t looking to start dating, but Daniel wrote to me the day after my birthday, and it felt like a sign. I miss your dad and our marriage every single day of my life, and I also miss having someone to cook for, and look after, someone who’ll look after me, all of those things that come with being in a relationship and being in love.”
“Are you in love with this guy?” Gary’s eyes watered, and his voice cracked as he spoke.
“Sweetheart, I won’t be seeing him in person until next week. No, I’m not in love with him. But I’m excited about the trip.”
Suki stroked her husband’s head as he composed himself. “I think Gary’s feeling super emotional these days,” she said. “And he’s been thinking about his dad a lot, knowing he’s going to be a father himself in another six months.”
There wasn’t a dry eye around the table when she finished.
After the dishes had been put away, the leftovers divvied up, and goodbye hugs exchanged, Anna changed into pajamas and her grandfather’s bathrobe and poured herself a glass of dessert wine. She moved the candles from the dining table and set their polished
